Mock+Trial+Prep

=Group Wiki Pages= =** Mock Trials begin on Monday, May 3rd. **= =Trial Schedule= = = =Monday- Opening statements, prosecution 1st witness (direct & cross exam)= =Tuesday- Prosecution case completed, defense begins case with first witness= =Wednesday- Defense concludes it's case= =Thursday- closing arguments, jury deliberation= =Friday- verdict, MVP's selected from each team, materials collected= = = = = = = =Period 6/7 State of Utopia V Tracy Palmer= = Prosecution= = Defense = = = = = =Period 8/9 New Justice V Jackson (Begins Monday 5/4)= =Prosecution = =Defense= =Period 8/9 Jack Ramone V Hilly Glass (begins Monday 5/10)= =Plaintiff = =Defendant= = = = = = = =Period 10 State of Utopia V Tracy Palmer= =Prosecution= =Defense=

= = =Mock Trial Prep=

__Case Tasks__ -Complete your case jigsaw worksheet. -Create your case theory story. -Create your case theme

=**Assignments**= Upload the following word documents into your google account, complete the assignment and share the document with me (gsagan@gmail.com).

1. Mock Trial Case Individual Outline [|MT Case Outline #1.doc]

Divide all of the witness statements in the trial among the team members (both prosecution & defense witnesses). Each person will complete one witness outline.

2. Mock Trial Witness Individual Outline [|MT witness analysis.doc]

3. Group Discussion Graphic ) Organizer (shared & completed by the GROUP) [|Case graphic organizer task#2.doc]

4. Make Your Case Trial Simulation

1. List the steps in a trial in proper sequence from the opening statement to the closing argument with one witness for each side in the case.What are opening statements and closing arguments? How do they differ? 2. What is the difference between direct examination and cross-examination? 3. Who raises objections in a trial and why? Who rules on objections? 4. List three objections with a description of the reason to raise the objection. 5. What did the jury have to decide in this case? What burden of proof did the jurors have to apply in reaching their verdict? What skills does an attorney need in trying a case such as this one?

Case Materials

1. Estate of Jack Ramone V GBCB'S Nightclub [|negligence fire death 2007.pdf]

This case involves a lawsuit against the owner of a night club that caught on fire. The plaintiff alleges that the owner of the night club is liable and at fault for Jack Ramone's death.

Plaintiff re-alleges and incorporates herein each and every allegation contained in paragraphs 1 through 8.10. The Defendant was negligent, grossly negligent and careless at the time and place above mentioned in at least one or more of the following particulars:a) In failing to properly monitor occupancy of the entertainment venue;b) In failing to maintain and properly train a sufficient staff to provide for security and safety of those participating in or viewing the entertainment;c) In failing to supervise the entertainment which involved pyrotechnics involving known danger; andd) In failing to fully and completely comply with all fire codes and other regulations regarding the safety of patrons in an entertainment venue.

2.STATE OF NEW JUSTICE V. JACKSON [|texting mock trial.pdf]

STATE OF NEW JUSTICE V. JACKSON CASE SUMMARYOn October 19, 2009, three students, Terry Jackson, Shaun Anderson and Jane Anderson, left the campus of West High School for lunch in Terry’s car. The lunch hour was only 50 minutes. West High did not have a closed campus and allowed students to freely leave campus. Nevertheless, in an effort to discourage students from leaving, the school had a strict parental notification policy regarding absences or tardies after a lunch period. A student’s parents were contacted when a student received two absences or tardies following a lunch period in any semester.Following lunch at Alice’s Restaurant, a local favorite, the students began the drive back to campus. They were going to be running it close in terms of time. Jane Anderson said that they had to hurry as she already had one tardy and did not want her parents notified they left campus. Terry said not to worry.The students turned eastbound onto Elm Street which ran along the north side of the campus. The student parking lot was on Magnolia which was on the east side of the campus. The speed limit on Elm was 30 mph for residential traffic. There was not a marked crosswalk at the corner of Elm and Magnolia but 100 yards from the corner was a sign that said “Caution Pedestrians.”As the car approached Magnolia, Terry saw another car in the middle of the street with its left turn signal flashing. Terry moved to the far right to pass and make a right turn onto4Magnolia. At Jane’s request, Terry was also texting a message on his/her cell phone to another student to tell the student to make up an excuse for Jane if she was late to class.Shaun yelled, “Watch out!” Terry looked up and saw that a student walking his/her bike was emerging from in front of the car with the turn signal heading toward campus. Terry slammed on the brakes and swerved right to avoid the student. After the Ford Explorer hit and ran up the curb, the vehicle rolled over. The car missed the student but slid and crashed into the pole for the traffic signal. Terry and Shaun were hurt but survived as both were restrained by their seat belts in the front bucket seats. However, Jane was sitting in the back and was not wearing her lap belt (she hated lap belts and they did not fit right with her skirt). Jane was ejected from the car and killed. The State has charged Terry Jackson with negligent homicide in the death of Jane Anderson. 3. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Legan Arabach [|2010MTCase.pdf]

Statement of FactsOn the night of October 27, 2008, Ophile Sarat, a financial analyst at Alwinjo Investments, planned to confront her/his boss Legan Arabach over what Sarat believed was a Ponzi scheme being run out of Alwinjo. Sarat’s roommate, Shay Tinto, drove Sarat to the Alwinjo building and watched as Sarat entered through the front doors. Sarat was never seen again.Legan Arabach was the managing partner of Alwinjo, a Philadelphia institution that had been in the Arabach family for almost 90 years. Alwinjo had once been a prestigious investment house but was in decline. In May 2008, Arabach attempted to infuse the firm with new blood by hiring Ophile Sarat and Rylan Satterfield, both recent college graduates. Sarat was a serious and bright Turkish immigrant who needed a work visa in order to remain in the United States. Arabach maintained ultimate control over sponsorship of the visa and Sarat worried constantly s/he would lose it.Rylan Satterfield lacked Ophile Sarat’s academic credentials but made up for it with confidence and charisma. More significantly, Satterfield offered the Holy Grail of investment banking to Arabach: Satterfield claimed to have created a new statistically based algorithm, called the StockSnake, that could predict market trends. Arabach believed that if StockSnake proved successful, s/he could market it to investors. Without it, Arabach faced the prospect of laying off employees, or worse, closing the firm.Although Sarat and Satterfield disliked each other, they were assigned the account of one of the firm’s largest investors, Dr. Donald Riverdale. Sarat worked hard on the account throughout the summer of 2008 while Satterfield spent most days surfing the web. With the potential of layoffs looming, Shay Tinto convinced Sarat to try to get Satterfield fired. Sarat’s plan backfired and instead of firing Satterfield, Legan Arabach put Sarat on probation and threatened to withhold the work visa sponsorship. Arabach also removed Sarat from the Riverdale account.Even though Sarat was off the Riverdale account, s/he and Shay Tinto continued to monitor it to see what Satterfield and StockSnake were up to. In September, they became suspicious StockSnake was part of a Ponzi scheme intended to defraud StockSnake investors, including Dr. Riverdale. At the time, only Satterfield and Arabach had formal access to StockSnake accounts and were able to move funds in and out of it.In October 2008, the market began a downward slide of historical proportion. Alwinjo investors clamored for their money but Arabach told her/his analysts to ignore client calls. On the morning of October 27, Dr. Riverdale and his wife showed up at Alwinjo demanding answers. Arabach pulled up the account which showed that Dr. Riverdale’s entire fund, $5 million, was gone and Arabach appeared to blame Sarat for the loss. Dr. Riverdale committed suicide in his home later that night.On the night s/he disappeared, Sarat had intended to confront Legan Arabach about the Riverdale account and StockSnake. After Sarat failed to return home from the Alwinjo offices, Tinto called police to report Sarat missing. Detective Zene Gaffney was assigned the case and after Tinto told Detective Gaffney about Sarat’s suspicious disappearance, Gaffney obtained a search warrant for the Alwinjo building. The search revealed incriminating evidence, including Sarat’s blood under a carpet pad in Arabach’s office as well as a possible murder weapon containing Arabach’s fingerprints and Sarat’s blood. Sarat’s body was never found.According to both Satterfield and Arabach, they attended Game 5 of the World Series on October 27, 2008 together, so Arabach was not in her/his office when Sarat came to the building. At trial, Shay Tinto and Detective Gaffney will testify for the Commonwealth. Rylan Satterfield and the accused, Legan Arabach, will testify for the defense. The Defendant has been charged with third degree murder.

4. State of Utopia V Tracy Palmer [|student murder case materials.pdf]

Introduction/Fact Summary:Utopia, a city with a population of about 40,000, is home to a number of well-regarded universities, like the prestigious University of Utopia (UU). Drew Barnes, Tracy Palmer and Max(ine) Swanson, all graduates of Utopia High School, were all among the few from their high school to be accepted at the University of Utopia. All three were popular, healthy, high-achieving high school students. Tracy Palmer, however, was diagnosed with somnambulism as a young child and continues to suffer from sleepwalking as a young adult.All three students were close friends growing up – having known each other since kindergarten. High school and college life can change people and their relationships, however. Tracy’s and Drew’s relationship became especially strained as they competed over academics in high school and college. In early April 2007, Tracy learned that Drew was dating Tracy’s ex girlfriend. This significantly intensified Tracy’s dislike for Drew.On the night of May 18, 2007, students had gotten together for an end-of-the-year party at Kill Devil Island. The island is in the middle of Lake Tarheel, which is located 15 miles from Utopia. Many of the students camped out at this popular hangout that night, playing games, telling ghost stories, and celebrating well into the night. Drew Barnes and Tracy Palmer both went to the island that night with separate groups of friends. Each came equipped with their own one-person tents, sturdy Maglite flashlights, and other high quality camping equipment. That night, Drew Barnes was overheard having a heated argument on the island. Drew was found dead in his tent at 6 am during the morning of May 19. The police arrived on the scene at 6:45 am. They sealed off the island – no person was allowed to leave or enter during the early hours of the investigation. Drew’s acquaintance, Alex Rome, was among the many students interviewed by the police that morning. Tracy Palmer, age 20, was questioned and fingerprinted by police. At the conclusion of his interview with police, Palmer was arrested for the murder of Drew Barnes.